Phone: 828-232-7433
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Fax:828-232-7434
Learning the Lessons, Living the Legacy, Lifting Lives
ABOUT
ROOTED IN HISTORY & COMMUNITY
CiCi Weston
Executive Director
CiCi Avery Weston was born in Asheville, NC to the late Rev. Dr Nilous and Mrs. Christine W. Avery.
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In February of 2015, CiCi along with her family, started the Christine Avery Learning Center, an educational nonprofit that initially provided afterschool and summer camp services for youth grades K-5 and a summer program for youth grades 6 – 9. Housed in the Educational Wing of Hill Street Baptist Church where her dad, Dr. Nilous Avery, Sr. served as pastor for over 50 year, CWA opened doors to about 30 students. The Christine W. Avery Learning Center (CWA) is named in honor of her late mother, who too was passionate about and committed to educating youth.
In 2017, CWA acquired Hill Street Daycare, expanding its services to include an early learning program component to CWA. Being able to continue the work with early learning meant a great deal to her, as Hill Street daycare was started by her mom and others in the 1950s. The oldest black owned and operated daycare in the city of Asheville today.
Named after the late Christine Watson Avery, the CWA learning center strives to build an active learning community for all students.
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Christine Avery served the community for over 50 years as an elementary school teacher for the Asheville City School system. She also served as first lady of the Hill Street Missionary Baptist church where she was head of the Christian Education program. During her time as the first lady of the church, Christine Avery founded the Hill Street Church Daycare; the oldest and only black owned daycare in Asheville. She believed that every child was special and deserving of love. Her message to everyone she encountered was to believe that they are loved and capable.
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Committed to the edification of the youth, Christine Avery served alongside her husband, Rev. Dr. Nilous M. Avery Sr., to champion discrimination using educational techniques. The two were successful in their attempts to reach the youth by creating many educational programs including the Asheville Student Commission on Racial Equality (ASCORE), and Earning By Learning.
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Christine Avery's legacy still continues today at the hands of her descendents. CiCi Weston, who is the daughter of the late Christine Avery, currently serves as the head director of the CWA learning center. CWA is also located in the same place where Hill Street Daycare once was.
